Andrew's Olympics

However he is not a skier or skater headed for the snow and ice at Whistler... Andrew is Chief Fire Officer at nearby Lions Bay and will be responsible for rescue work in the area, helping keep Olympic competitors and visitors safe during this busy time.

Andrew and his team of fireman will be watching over the Sea To Sky Highway between Lions Bay and Squamish.

There is already a high volume of traffic on this road so with the extra amount of mini-buses, heavy vehicles and multi-passenger buses, Andrew will need all his years of experience and expertise to cope with emergencies as they happen in difficult conditions.

Now 44, Andrew was once a pupil at Bexhill Down infant, junior and high school, as were sister Nicola and his twin brother Timothy.

His parents are Bob and Wendy Oliver of Plemont Gardens.

Afterwards Andrew worked for Eldridge and Cruttenden as a carpenter, having trained and studied at Hastings College.

He emigrated to Canada with his wife Louise 15 years ago and they have three children.

Andrew works for Heron Construction and Mile Works in Richmond BC and lives in the village of Lions Bay, just outside Vancouver.

Wendy said: "He serves as a fire officer, his compulsory volunteer work for the village, and has worked his way up through the ranks to Chief Fire Officer, where he has to shoulder huge responsibilities like forest fires, mountain rescues, road traffic accidents, house fires, and numerous committee meetings and TV interviews."

He has come a long way, and no one is more aware of that than Wendy who comments: "He was a remedial dyslexic at school and was written off - they said he would never do any good. Now look at him."

Her other son Timothy lives in Catsfield while Nicola is also nearby, in Little Common, but nevertheless the departure of Andrew was difficult to deal with and Wendy "didn't know what to do" with herself.

She has become more used to the distance however and three years ago when out to visit with Bob.

She said of Andrew: "He is lovely. He is kind and gentle and understanding, and a very hard worker. An all-round good citizen. He is ideal for what he does, and he can always see the good in people."